After failing to reach an agreement during late-night Sunday over working conditions, salaries and staffing policies, the New York State Nurses Association said early Monday that 7,000 nurses were on strike at 2 hospitals — the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.
The hospitals rushed to bring in temporary staff and continue operations, even pressing doctors into service to fill nursing shortages
The nurses are demanding increased staffing, better wages, and an end to benefit cuts.
BREAKING NEWS: Over 7,000 nurses across the Bronx and Manhattan will go on strike today after failing to reach agreements during overnight bargaining with Mount Sinai Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center. @nynurses posted this on Instagram. #NYCNurseStrike pic.twitter.com/s20md9m9CK
— Maya Kaufman (@mayakauf) January 9, 2023
BREAKING: Over 7,000 nurses in NYC are now on strike at Mount Sinai Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center. The nurses are demanding increased staffing, better wages, and an end to benefit cuts.
Video via @nynurses, and we'll share updates from them and others in this thread. pic.twitter.com/wnRYAYTMZb
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) January 9, 2023
“The entire New York City Labor Movement stands with our @nynurses, who are courageously taking action against dangerous understaffing that threatens the safety of their patients,” said New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO President Vincent Alvarez. 1/4 #NYCNurseStrike pic.twitter.com/j6FCZS9rAf
— NYC CLC, AFL-CIO (@CentralLaborNYC) January 9, 2023
Statement of New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento on Strike by NYSNA Nurses:
“Union members across the city and state, from the public sector, private sector, and building trades are united in our support of the nurses represented by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), who have been put in the unfortunate position of having no other choice than to strike,” said Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO.
“These nurses are dedicated professionals who provide quality patient care under unimaginable conditions day in and day out that were exacerbated by the pandemic. Now they are faced with the added challenge of short staffing that has reached critical levels and could compromise their ability to provide the best quality care to their patients.
“It is unfathomable that these hospitals are showing such complete disregard for the pressure under which these nurses work and all they do for their patients each day. Their treatment of these nurses is proof that all their words of adulation for their healthcare heroes during the pandemic were hollow.
“It is time for the hospitals to treat these nurses fairly, with the dignity and respect they deserve, and to negotiate in good faith, quickly, to ensure nurses can get back to serving their communities by providing superior care to their patients,” Cilento said.